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The Indonesian national flag is called "Sang Saka Merah Putih". As provided for in Articles 35 of the 1945 Constitution, the flag is made up of two colors, red on top of white. Its width is two-third of its length, or two meters by three meters. It is hoisted in front of the presidential palace, of government buildings and Indonesian missions abroad. The first flag was courageously flown amidst Japanese occupation forces on the day Indonesia's independence was proclaimed. Since then it has been hoisted at Independence Day commemoration in front of the presidential palace in the capital city of Jakarta. This historical flag, or "bendera pusaka", was flown for the last time on August 17, 1968. Since then it has been preserved and replaced by a replica woven of pure Indonesian silk.
 The Indonesian coat of arms consists of a golden eagle; called "garuda" that is a figure from ancient Indonesian epics. It is also pictured on many temples from the 6th Century.
The eagle is a symbol of creative energy. Its principal color, gold, suggests the greatness of the nation. The black color represents nature. There are 17 feathers on each wing, 8 on the tail and 45 on the neck. These figures stand for the date of Indonesia's independence proclamation: 17 August 1945.
The motto, "Bhinneka Tunggal Ika" (Unity in Diversity), is enshrined on a banner held in the eagle's talons. Empu Tantular, a saint of the Majapahit Kingdom introduced this old Javanese motto, in the 15th century. It signifies the unity of the Indonesian people despite their diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
The shield symbolizes self-defense in struggle and protection of oneself. The red and white colors on the shield's background denote the colors of the Indonesian national flag. The five symbols on the shield represent the state philosophy of Pancasila, the foundation of the Indonesian state.
The bar across the center indicates the equator, which passes through the islands of Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Halmahera. This is a reminder of the fact that the Republic of Indonesia is the only tropical country in which the people have built a free and sovereign state by their own hands.
The golden star on the black background in the center of the shield represents the first principle of Pancasila, belief in the One and Only God. The chain symbolizes successive human generations. The round links represent women and the square ones men. It is the symbol of the second principle, just and civilized humanity. The "beringin," or banyan tree, symbolizes the third principle, the unity on Indonesia. The head of the "banteng", or wild bull (Bos javanicus), which is black on a red background, represents the fourth principle, democracy guided by the inner wisdom in the unanimity arising out of deliberations amongst representatives. The fifth principle, social justice for the whole of the people of Indonesia, is symbolized by the gold and white paddy and cotton ears.
The national anthem is "Indonesia Raya", which means Great Indonesia. The song was composed in 1928.
The colonial policy of the day was "divide and rule." It was a policy that deliberately aggravated language, ethnic, cultural and religious differences amongst the people.
The birth of Indonesia Raya marked the beginning of Indonesian nationalist movements. The song was firstly introduced by its composer, Wage Rudolf Supratman, at the second All Indonesian Youth Congress on October 28, 1928 in Batavia, now Jakarta. It was the moment when Indonesian youth of different ethnic, language, religious and cultural backgrounds resolutely pledged allegiance to:
- One native land, Indonesia;
- One nation, the Indonesian nation;
- One unifying language, the Indonesian language.
Soon the national song, which called for the unity of Indonesia, became popular. It was echoed at Indonesian political rallies, where people stood in solemn observance. The song seriously aroused national consciousness among the people throughout the archipelago Indonesia's National Anthem.
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